Method for mechanically knotting pet chews and pet chews made thereby

Abstract

A fully mechanized method for making artificial knotted pet chews such as edible dog bones. The method employs a knot box having a tubular chamber in the form of a knot. Rolled or folded pet chew material is mechanically inserted into and pushed through the chamber of the knot box, clamped at the far end, pulled from both ends to form a knot, and then withdrawn. According to one embodiment, the knot box separates to facilitate knotting and withdrawal of the knotted chew. The process is repeated for double knotted chew. The method can be used with pet chews made from treated rawhide, extruded plant material, and rawhide or extruded plant material combined with a meat layer. The method allows the manufacture of knotted dog bones without the use of human labor, avoiding the consequent costs and other drawbacks encountered when requiring workers to engage in simple, repetitive manual tasks.

1 . A method for making knotted animal chews using a knot box comprising:
 (a) forming edible chew material into a flexible elongated member;   (b) inserting a first end of said elongated member into the entry port of a knot box comprising a housing with tubular chamber, an entry port proximally, and an exit port distally, said chamber formed in the shape of the desired knot with a cutaway central section to accommodate knotting;   (c) inserting the first end of said elongated member into the entry port of said box and pushing said member the through the knot box chamber until said first end extends beyond the exit port;   (d) pulling said elongated member from both ends causing the member to form a knot along its length within said cutaway section of said chamber; and   (e) withdrawing said knotted member from said knot box entry port.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the second end of the knotted elongated member into said entry port and repeating steps (c) through (e) but wherein the second end becomes the first end, to form an animal chew demonstrating a double knot. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said edible chew material is selected from a group comprising treated rawhide remnants, extruded plant material, meat and other protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein different edible material are combined in layers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section shape of said elongated member is a selected from a group comprising a tube, a square, a flat sheet, and a flat sheet that has been folded upon itself along its longitudinal axis two or more times. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method is mechanized using mechanical arms and clamps to insert, push, pull and withdraw said elongated member from within said knot box. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the entry port and exist port are interchangeable and the knotted member can be withdrawn from either the entry port or the exit port in step (e). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the entry port is enlarged relative to the exit port to accommodate withdrawal of the knotted member in step (e). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the moisture content of the elongated member to obtain the necessary stiffness and flexibility prior to insertion of the elongated member into the entry port of the knot box. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming edible chew material is accomplished in whole or in part by extrusion. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making knotted animal chews using a knot box comprising:
 (a) forming edible chew material into a flexible elongated member;   (b) inserting a first end of said elongated member into the entry port of a knot box comprising a housing with tubular chamber, an entry port proximally, and an exit port distally, said chamber formed in the shape of the desired knot, and said box being separable into two halves along the longitudinal axis of said tubular chamber;   (c) inserting a first end of said elongated member into the entry port of said box and pushing the elongated member through the knot box chamber until said first end extends beyond the exit port;   (d) separating the two halves of said box to leave the elongated member unrestrained by said box;   (e) pulling said elongated member from both ends causing the member to form a knot along its length.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 reassembling the knot box;   inserted the second end of the knotted elongated member into said entry port; and   repeating steps (c) through (e) of  claim 11 , but wherein the second end becomes the first end, to form an animal chew demonstrating a double knot.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said edible chew material is selected from a group comprising treated rawhide remnants, extruded plant material, meat and other protein. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein different edible material are combined in layers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the method is mechanized using mechanical arms and clamps to insert, push, and pull said elongated member and to hold, separate and reassemble said knot box. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cross-section shape of said elongated member is a selected from a group comprising a tube, a square, a flat sheet, and a flat sheet that has been folded upon itself along its longitudinal axis two or more times. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the moisture content of the elongated member to obtain the necessary stiffness and flexibility prior to insertion of the elongated member into the entry port of the knot box. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming edible chew material is accomplished in whole or in part by extrusion. 
     
     
         19 . Animal chews made from the method described in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . Animal chews made from the method described in  claim 11 .